EP0383160A2 - Appareil de développement - Google Patents

Appareil de développement Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0383160A2
EP0383160A2 EP90102333A EP90102333A EP0383160A2 EP 0383160 A2 EP0383160 A2 EP 0383160A2 EP 90102333 A EP90102333 A EP 90102333A EP 90102333 A EP90102333 A EP 90102333A EP 0383160 A2 EP0383160 A2 EP 0383160A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
toner
developing
amount
sensor
replenishing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP90102333A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0383160A3 (fr
Inventor
Tokiyuki Okano
Kiyoshi Inamoto
Kazuyuki Ohnishi
Hidetomo Nishiyama
Kazunori Sohda
Masato Tokishige
Yoichi Shimazawa
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sharp Corp
Original Assignee
Sharp Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sharp Corp filed Critical Sharp Corp
Publication of EP0383160A2 publication Critical patent/EP0383160A2/fr
Publication of EP0383160A3 publication Critical patent/EP0383160A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/01—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for producing multicoloured copies
    • G03G15/0105—Details of unit
    • G03G15/0126—Details of unit using a solid developer
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
    • G03G15/0849—Detection or control means for the developer concentration
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
    • G03G15/0849—Detection or control means for the developer concentration
    • G03G15/0853—Detection or control means for the developer concentration the concentration being measured by magnetic means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
    • G03G15/0856—Detection or control means for the developer level

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a developing apparatus for use in an image forming arrangement based on electrophotography and more particularly, to a developing apparatus of the above type including a plurality of developing units.
  • toner is supplied from a developing apparatus onto a surface of a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed so as to develop the latent image into a visible image.
  • images for respective colors for three primaries in the subtractive mixture are formed on the surface of the photosensitive member so as to be composed or combined.
  • developing apparatuses are formed into units for the respective colors, with each of the developing units being provided with a separate magnet roller for supplying toner onto the surface of the photosensitive member.
  • the developing apparatus having a plurality of developing units as described above, it has been a practice to independently detect the amount of toner accommodated in each developing unit, thereby to effect a display to urge toner replenishment with respect to the developing unit showing the accommodated toner amount below a predetermined value, so that an operator recognizes said display and replenishes the toner in the color accommodated in the developing unit with respect to said developing unit which has decreased in the accommodated toner amount.
  • an essential object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus having a plurality of developing units, which is so arranged that when replenishment of toner becomes necessary in one devel­oping unit, the amounts of toner accommodated in other developing units are also checked, so as to simultaneously effect toner replenishment with respect to the other developing units whose accommodated toner amounts are reduced to such an extent as will permit replenishment of toner by a predetermined amount, whereby the frequency of toner replenishment work is reduced for the improvement of working efficiency of the image forming apparatus.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus of the above described type, which is simple in construction and stable in functioning at high reliability, and can be readily incorporated into various image forming apparatuses at low cost.
  • a developing apparatus which includes a plurality of developing units individually provided with sensor means for detecting amounts of toner accommodated therein, and is characterized in that there are further provided a judging means for judging whether or not sensor outputs of other developing units are below a replenishable amount when a sensor output of one developing unit falls below a replenishing requiring amount, and a replenishing display means for urging toner replenishment, based on the result of said judgement, with respect to the developing unit having the sensor output below the replenishing requir­ing amount and the developing unit whose sensor output is below the replenishable amount.
  • the control unit outputs to a display section DP, signals corresponding to the developing units DU provided with such sensors SR.
  • the display section DP effects the display for urging toner replenishment with respect to the equivalent developing units DU according to said signals.
  • the control section CN judges whether or not there are any sensors SR showing the amount below the replenishable amount (toner amount in a state where the accommodated amount has been reduced to such an extent that toner more than a predetermined amount can be replenished) in the other sensor outputs, and outputs to the display section DP, signals corresponding to the developing units DU having the sensors SR whose output is below the replenishable amount. According to said signals, the display section DP urges to replenish toner with respect to the developing unit DU having the sensor output showing the amount less than the replenishable amount.
  • FIG. 2 a side sectional view of one of developing units 3 which constitutes part of a developing apparatus according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the developing unit 3 general strictlyly includes a developing tank 5 in which a magnet roller 14 and a stirring roller 15 are rotatably provided, and a hopper 4 located at the upper portion of said developing tank 5 and rotatably accommodating a replenishing roller 12 therein.
  • the developing tank 5 which accommodates a devel­oping material composed of toner and carrier therein, is formed in its bottom wall 5a, with an opening 13, through which part of the magnet roller 14 is exposed to confront a photosensitive surface of a photosensitive member or photoreceptor (not shown).
  • a photosensitive member or photoreceptor Of the developing material containing toner and carrier, only the toner is supplied onto the photosensitive surface. Accordingly, as the toner is consumed, toner concentration in the developing material is to be lowered.
  • a magnetic permeability sensor 10 which detects the toner concentration within the develop­ing tank 5, and its output (i.e. a toner concentration signal) TD is applied to a control circuit to be described later. The output of this permeability sensor 10 is in­creased as the toner within the developing tank 5 is re­duced, with a consequent lowering of the toner concentra­tion.
  • toner 6 to be fed to the develop­ing tank 5 is accommodated.
  • the replenishing roller 12 rotatably supported at a communicating portion between the hopper 4 and the developing tank 5 is driven for rotation by a motor 11.
  • a recess 4a at one portion of the hopper 4 in a position adjacent to the roller 12, there is formed a recess 4a, in which an actuator 7 urged upwardly by a spring 8 is movably provided.
  • the displacement of said actuator 7 is transmitted to a level sensor 9 constituted by a variable resistor.
  • This level sensor 9 is arranged to detect varia­tion in the amount of toner 6 accommodated within the hopper 4 as the displacement of the actuator 7 so as to output toner level signal TL.
  • the output of the toner level sensor 9 is decreased as the amount of the toner accommodated in the hopper 4 is reduced.
  • a control circuit 1 is coupled with the developing units 3a,3b,3c and 3d, and also, with a display circuit 2 which is further connected to replenishing display lamps L1,L2, L3 and L4.
  • toner concentration signals TD1,TD2,TD3 and TD4, and toner level signals TL1,TL2,TL3 and TL4 are respectively applied from the respective developing units 3a to 3d, while driving signals TM1,TM2, TM3 and TM4 for the motors 11 are outputted from said control circuit 1 with respect to the developing units 3a to 3d.
  • display data are applied from the control circuit 1, to the display circuit 2, which illumi­nates the replenishing lamps L1 to L4 according to said display data.
  • the replenishing display lamps L1 to L4 are provided on a control panel of an image forming apparatus (not particularly shown) equipped with the developing apparatus of the present invention as described above. These replenishing display lamps L1 to L4 correspond to the respective developing units 3a to 3d.
  • the control circuit Upon turning on a power supply, the control circuit fetches the state of the toner concentration signal TD1 to TD4 (Step n1), and waits for any of the toner concen­tration signals TDi emitted by the respective permeability sensors 10 of the developing units 3a to 3d, to become "Hi" level (Step n2). In the case where the toner concentration within the developing tank 5 is lowered in any of the developing units 3a to 3d, the output voltage of the permea­bility sensor 10 of said developing unit 3 is raised.
  • Step n3 When the toner concentration of the developing material in the developing tank 5 falls below a reference value and the toner concentration signal TD becomes "Hi" level, the toner level signal TLi of the level sensor 9 possessed by said developing unit 3 is checked (Step n3). In the case where a sufficient amount of toner 6 is accommodated within the hopper 4, with the toner level signal TLi being of "Hi" level, the driving signal TMi for the motor 11 possessed by the developing unit 3 is outputted (Step n4), whereby said motor 11 is driven for rotation of the supply roller 12, and the toner 6 is supplied from the hopper 4 into the developing tank 5.
  • control circuit outputs the driving signal TMi to drive the motor 11 until the toner concentra­tion signal TDi becomes "Lo" level as a result that a sufficient amount of toner has been fed into the developing tank 5, with a consequent rise of the toner concentration (Steps n4 to n6).
  • Step n3 when the amount of toner 6 accommodated within the hopper 4 is insufficient and the output TLi of the level sensor 9 is of "Lo" level, it is judged that the toner replenishment is necessary, and the display data LDi for the display lamp Li corresponding to the developing unit 3 is outputted (Step n7).
  • the replenishing requiring amount is the amount of toner in the state where the toner concentration within the developing tank 5 is low and the accommodated toner amount within the hopper 4 is small.
  • the outputs TL1 to TL4 of the level sensors 9 (toner level signals) pos­sessed by the developing units other than the developing unit requiring the toner replenishment are fetched (Step n8).
  • the display lamp corresponding the developing unit provided with the level sensor 9 which has outputted said toner level signal is illuminated (Steps n9,n10).
  • the display lamps corresponding to all of the plurality of the developing units provided with the level sensors 9 outputting such toner level signals are illuminated.
  • the replenishable amount represents the toner amount in the state where the amount of toner accommodated in the hopper 4 is small, although the toner concentration within the developing tank 5 is sufficiently high.
  • the present invention it is so arranged that when the toner concentration of the developing material in the developing tank 5 is lowered, with the amount of toner accommodated within the hopper 4 being insufficient and the outputs of the level sensor 9 and permeability sensor 10 of the developing unit 3 become the replenishing requiring amount, the state of output of the level sensors 9 for the other developing units are checked.
  • the display for urging the toner replenishment is also made with respect to such a developing unit.
  • toner in the case where the replenishment of toner above a predetermined amount is possible in the other developing unit, during the toner replenishment with respect to the developing unit in which the toner has been used up, toner can be simultaneous­ly replenished also with respect to such other developing unit, and thus, not only the frequency for the toner replenishing work may be reduced for improved workability, but higher working efficiency of the image forming apparatus can also be achieved at the same time.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Color Electrophotography (AREA)
EP19900102333 1989-02-15 1990-02-07 Appareil de développement Withdrawn EP0383160A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1989016597U JPH02107166U (fr) 1989-02-15 1989-02-15
JP16597/89 1989-02-15

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0383160A2 true EP0383160A2 (fr) 1990-08-22
EP0383160A3 EP0383160A3 (fr) 1991-05-29

Family

ID=11920700

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900102333 Withdrawn EP0383160A3 (fr) 1989-02-15 1990-02-07 Appareil de développement

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (2) US5070368A (fr)
EP (1) EP0383160A3 (fr)
JP (1) JPH02107166U (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0503543A2 (fr) * 1991-03-09 1992-09-16 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Appareil de formation d'images
EP0545631A2 (fr) * 1991-11-29 1993-06-09 Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. Appareil de formation d'images
EP0686892A2 (fr) * 1994-06-07 1995-12-13 Konica Corporation Appareil de formation d'images muni d'un dispositif de remplissage de toner

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2827137B2 (ja) * 1989-12-05 1998-11-18 株式会社リコー クリーナ・トナー・マガジン及び電子写真式記録装置
JP2860918B2 (ja) * 1991-01-23 1999-02-24 株式会社リコー クリーナ・トナー・マガジン
JP3417240B2 (ja) * 1997-01-23 2003-06-16 富士ゼロックス株式会社 電子写真装置
US6181886B1 (en) 1999-12-23 2001-01-30 David E. Hockey Toner replenishment and collection apparatus and method
US6347199B1 (en) * 2000-11-06 2002-02-12 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Toner supply method in picture image forming system and picture image forming system
JP3771880B2 (ja) * 2002-08-12 2006-04-26 株式会社沖データ トナー回収装置

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3951309A (en) * 1973-07-11 1976-04-20 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Device for detecting the quantity of remaining developer
JPS6057869A (ja) * 1983-09-10 1985-04-03 Ricoh Co Ltd カラ−電子写真用トナ−濃度測定装置
JPS60229048A (ja) * 1984-04-27 1985-11-14 Toshiba Corp 像形成装置
JPS61107264A (ja) * 1984-10-30 1986-05-26 Canon Inc カラ−画像形成装置
JPS61176962A (ja) * 1985-01-31 1986-08-08 Konishiroku Photo Ind Co Ltd 画像形成装置
US4660505A (en) * 1984-12-25 1987-04-28 Hitachi Metals, Ltd. Developing apparatus

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS544619B2 (fr) * 1973-06-14 1979-03-08
US4647185A (en) * 1981-10-23 1987-03-03 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Developer detecting device
JPS5872174A (ja) * 1981-10-23 1983-04-30 Minolta Camera Co Ltd 複写機
JPS6060054A (ja) * 1983-09-09 1985-04-06 M K Seikou Kk 洗車機
US4897690A (en) * 1987-09-30 1990-01-30 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus
JPH01142765A (ja) * 1987-11-30 1989-06-05 Toshiba Corp 画像形成送置
JP2882529B2 (ja) * 1988-12-05 1999-04-12 株式会社リコー 画像形成装置

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3951309A (en) * 1973-07-11 1976-04-20 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Device for detecting the quantity of remaining developer
JPS6057869A (ja) * 1983-09-10 1985-04-03 Ricoh Co Ltd カラ−電子写真用トナ−濃度測定装置
JPS60229048A (ja) * 1984-04-27 1985-11-14 Toshiba Corp 像形成装置
JPS61107264A (ja) * 1984-10-30 1986-05-26 Canon Inc カラ−画像形成装置
US4660505A (en) * 1984-12-25 1987-04-28 Hitachi Metals, Ltd. Developing apparatus
JPS61176962A (ja) * 1985-01-31 1986-08-08 Konishiroku Photo Ind Co Ltd 画像形成装置

Non-Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
G. ASCH et al.: "Les capteurs en instrumentation industrielle", new edition, 1983, pages 307-311, Dunod, Paris, FR *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 10, no. 288 (P-502)[2344], 30th September 1986; & JP-A-61 107 264 (CANON INC.) 26-05-1986 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 10, no. 389 (P-531)[2446], 26th December 1986; & JP-A-61 176 962 (KONISHIROKU PHOTO IND. CO., LTD) 08-08-1986 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 10, no. 93 (P-445)[2150], 10th April 1986; & JP-A-60 229 048 (TOSHIBA K.K.) 14-11-1985 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 9, no. 190 (P-378)[1913], 7th August 1985; & JP-A-60 57 869 (RICOH K.K.) 03-04-1985 *

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0503543A2 (fr) * 1991-03-09 1992-09-16 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Appareil de formation d'images
EP0503543A3 (en) * 1991-03-09 1994-09-07 Mita Industrial Co Ltd Image forming apparatus
EP0545631A2 (fr) * 1991-11-29 1993-06-09 Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. Appareil de formation d'images
EP0545631A3 (en) * 1991-11-29 1993-07-07 Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. Image forming apparatus
US5298951A (en) * 1991-11-29 1994-03-29 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Image forming apparatus with toner monitoring system
EP0686892A2 (fr) * 1994-06-07 1995-12-13 Konica Corporation Appareil de formation d'images muni d'un dispositif de remplissage de toner
EP0686892A3 (fr) * 1994-06-07 1997-07-30 Konishiroku Photo Ind Appareil de formation d'images muni d'un dispositif de remplissage de toner

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH02107166U (fr) 1990-08-27
EP0383160A3 (fr) 1991-05-29
US5070368A (en) 1991-12-03
US5138386A (en) 1992-08-11

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